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SINGAPORE – Phase 3 of Singapore’s reopening could potentially last a year or more and would not be a return to the pre-COVID-19 state, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said in Parliament on Wednesday (November 4).
The “new normal” of Phase 3 would last until the rest of the world has the virus under tight control or when effective treatments or vaccines are widely available, he added.
Gan was responding to a question from Member of Parliament (MP) Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC), who asked about the possibility of Phase 3 starting at the end of December and what factors are considered when deciding the maximum number of people allowed to events. He also asked about the safeguards to be put in place in the event that activities are resumed on a larger scale and in case the number of infections increases.
In response, Gan said that when determining capacity limits for events in Phase 3, the government took into account the frequency of activities, potential risk factors inherent in the nature of the events, and whether security measures can be implemented. effectively to mitigate any risks. risks.
Analysis has shown that the likelihood of broadcasts is typically higher in social settings, said Gan, citing examples from the Safra Jurong dinner and the Mei Hwan Drive Chinese New Year gathering earlier this year, when large groups formed. of COVID-19.
“It is natural to lower our guard when we are with family and friends, when we eat together, the risk is greater, since the masks must be removed while we eat and drink. Many of us go out to eat practically every day, and with different groups the risk multiplies many times, “said the minister.
Therefore, authorities are taking a “cautious approach” in expanding group sizes and are considering increasing group sizes from five to eight in Phase 3, he said.
While social gatherings of any size pose a risk of COVID-19 transmission, banning them for long periods “was neither sustainable nor desirable.”
Therefore, a “careful balance” is needed between allowing gatherings of up to eight people and maintaining a safe distance in Phase 3, he added.
At weddings, Gan described them as “high risk,” as friends and families tended to want to socialize. Noting pleas to increase the cap on the number of wedding guests, Gan said additional measures needed to be implemented, such as preventing guests from mixing beyond their groups of five and ensuring they use SafeEntry and TraceTogether.
Gan stated, “In the event of an increase in cases, we must respond quickly and decisively. We cannot rule out the need to re-impose measures or introduce new measures to keep the virus under control ”.
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